Mail will continue to be delivered but will be delayed, the union said.

“Canada Post had the opportunity this weekend to stop any postal disruption on Monday, but instead, as they have for almost a year, they refused to talk about the issues that matter to our members,” says union national president Mike Palecek.

“Our goal has always been a negotiated settlement but we will not agree to anything that doesn’t address health and safety, gender equality and good, full-time middle-class jobs.”

The union said workers were striking for job security, and end to forced overtime, better health and safety measures and service expansion and equality for rural and suburban mail carriers.